Transfer textile printing method

ABSTRACT

The object is to provide a transfer textile printing method that satisfies general versatility, simplicity, fixing property, color development property and fineness. 
     The object is achieved by a transfer textile printing method comprising
         a step (1) of preparing a transfer paper,   a step (2) of forming a pattern using a pigment ink on the transfer paper to obtain a printed transfer paper,   a step (3) of bringing the printed transfer paper and a textile printing medium into close contact with each other and heating and pressurizing,   a step (4) of performing a heat treatment without pressurizing while the printed transfer paper and the textile printing medium remain in close contact with each other, and   a step (5) of removing the printed transfer paper from the textile printing medium,   wherein the transfer textile printing method comprises the step (3), the step (4), and the step (5) in this order.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transfer textile printing method forforming a pattern on a textile printing medium such as a fabric using aprinted transfer paper.

BACKGROUND ART

As a method for forming a pattern on a fabric, a transfer textileprinting method is known in which the surface of a printed transferpaper having a pattern formed thereon with sublimation printing ink madeof sublimation dye and the surface to be printed of a textile printingmedium such as a fabric are heated facing each other to transfer thepattern to the textile printing medium (see, for example, PatentDocument 1). The pattern of the printed transfer paper is formed by aprinting method such as a gravure printing method, a screen printingmethod, an electrophotographic printing method, and an inkjet printingmethod. Since the degree of freedom of ink used is relatively high, thepattern is often formed by an inkjet printing method.

There is known a direct textile printing method in which a pattern isdirectly formed on a textile printing medium by an inkjet printingmethod or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

The textile printing inks of the direct textile printing method includedye inks and pigment inks. In textile printing using a dye ink, sincethere are compounds of coloring materials corresponding to variouscolors, it is possible to form a pattern excellent in color developmentand color tone on a textile printing medium. However, the dye ink may beinsufficiently fixed to the textile printing medium. Furthermore, thefineness of the pattern may be reduced due to the insufficient fixing.Accordingly, in order to supplement fixing, dye ink requires complicatedpost-processing such as fixing processing on a textile printing mediumhaving a pattern formed thereon. On the other hand, the pigment ink issuperior to the dye ink in terms of light resistance and waterresistance, although it is inferior in color development and color toneas compared with the dye ink. In addition, the direct textile printingmethod using a pigment ink is superior in fixing to a textile printingmedium than a dye ink, and therefore, complicated post-processing forthe textile printing medium is not required.

For these reasons, a direct textile printing method using a pigment inkis attracting attention.

However, it is difficult for the textile printing medium to directlyaccept the dye ink or pigment ink suitably. Therefore, the directtextile printing method often requires pre-treatment of the textileprinting medium in advance in order to improve the receiving ability ofthe textile printing medium with respect to dye ink or pigment ink. Forthis reason, there are disadvantages such as the pre-treatment time,cost, and change in texture of the textile printing medium.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.2015-124324 (unexamined, published Japanese patent application)

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.2004-67807(unexamined, published Japanese patent application)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

There is a transfer textile printing method in which a printed transferpaper having a pattern formed thereon using a sublimation printing inkis brought into close contact with a textile printing medium andheat-treated to transfer the ink from the printed transfer paper to thetextile printing medium. However, the textile printing medium that canbe printed with the sublimation printing ink is limited to the one madeof polyester fiber, and the one made of other fibers such as cotton andnylon cannot be printed.

There is a transfer textile printing method in which a printed transferpaper having a pattern formed thereon using a disperse dye ink which isa dye poorly soluble in water and generally contains the dye in a stateof fine particles dispersion with a dispersant is brought into closecontact with a textile printing medium and heat-treated to transfer theink from the printed transfer paper to the textile printing medium.However, textile printing media that can be printed with disperse dyeink are almost limited to those made of hydrophobic fibers such aspolyester, acetate, and triacetate.

The present inventors have focused on pigment inks that are excellent infixing to various textile printing media, and based on the transfertextile printing method that allows the textile printing media to easilyaccept the ink, the present inventors have studied a transfer textileprinting method that satisfies the color development and fineness of thepattern formed on the textile printing medium, and have arrive at theinvention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer textileprinting method having the following items using a pigment ink.

The textile printing medium is not limited to polyester (generalversatility)

No need for pre-treatment of a textile printing medium (simplicity)

The pattern formed on a textile printing medium is sufficiently fixed(fixing property)

The pattern formed on a textile printing medium has sufficient colordevelopment (color development property)

The pattern formed on a textile printing medium is sufficiently fine(fineness)

Means for Solving the Problems

As a result of extensive studies to solve the above problems, thepresent inventors have accomplished the object of the present inventionby the following.

[1] A transfer textile printing method comprising

a step (1) of preparing a transfer paper,

a step (2) of forming a pattern using a pigment ink on the transferpaper to obtain a printed transfer paper,

a step (3) of bringing the printed transfer paper and a textile printingmedium into close contact with each other and heating and pressurizing,

a step (4) of performing a heat treatment without pressurizing while theprinted transfer paper and the textile printing medium remain in closecontact with each other, and

a step (5) of removing the printed transfer paper from the textileprinting medium,

wherein the transfer textile printing method comprises the step (3), thestep (4), and the step (5) in this order.

[2] The transfer textile printing method according to [1], furthercomprising a step (6) of washing the textile printing medium with waterafter the step (5).

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transfertextile printing method having general versatility, simplicity, fixingproperty, color development property and fineness.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described below in detail.

The present invention is a transfer textile printing method comprising

a step (1) of preparing a transfer paper,

a step (2) of forming a pattern using a pigment ink on the transferpaper to obtain a printed transfer paper,

a step (3) of bringing the printed transfer paper and a textile printingmedium into close contact with each other and heating and pressurizing,

a step (4) of performing a heat treatment without pressurizing while theprinted transfer paper and the textile printing medium remain in closecontact with each other, and

a step (5) of removing the printed transfer paper from the textileprinting medium,

wherein the transfer textile printing method comprises the step (3), thestep (4), and the step (5) in this order.

In the present invention, the term “transfer paper” means a paper in ablank state before a pattern to be transferred is printed, which is usedfor a transfer textile printing method. The term “printed transferpaper” means a paper on which a pattern to be transferred to a textileprinting medium has been printed with respect to the transfer paper.

The transfer paper is not particularly limited as long as it can printthe pattern to be transferred. The transfer paper may be either anon-coated paper that does not have a coating layer for manufacturingcost reduction or a coated paper that has a coating layer for receivingink well on a paper substrate. As the non-coated paper and the coatedpaper, various printing papers used for a normal printing method such asan offset printing method, a gravure printing method, a screen printingmethod, an electrophotographic printing method, and an inkjet printingmethod can be used.

The step (1) of preparing a transfer paper is obtaining a transfer paperby producing a non-coated paper or a coated paper by a conventionallyknown method, or obtaining a transfer paper by obtaining commerciallyavailable various printing paper of a coated paper or a non-coatedpaper.

The non-coated paper is a papermaking paper obtained by producing apaper stock containing at least one pulp selected from chemical pulpsuch as LBKP (Leaf Bleached Kraft Pulp) and NBKP (Needle Bleached KraftPulp), mechanical pulp such as GP (Groundwood Pulp), PGW (PressureGround Wood pulp), RMP (Refiner Mechanical Pulp), TMP (Thermo MechanicalPulp), CTMP (ChemiThermoMechanical Pulp), CMP (Chemi Mechanical Pulp)and CGP (Chemi Groundwood Pulp), and waste paper pulp such as DIP(DeInked Pulp), various fillers such as calcium carbonate, talc, clayand kaolin, and various additives such as a sizing agent, a fixingagent, a retention aid, a cationizing agent and a paper strengtheningagent as required into a paper. Further, the non-coated paper includeswoodfree paper which has been subjected to calendering processing,surface sizing with starch, polyvinyl alcohol or the like, or surfacetreatment or the like on a papermaking paper. Further, the non-coatedpaper includes woodfree paper which has been subjected to calenderingprocessing after subjected to surface sizing or surface treatment.

Paper making is carried out by adjusting a paper stock to acidic,neutral or alkaline and using a conventionally known papermakingmachine. Examples of the papermaking machine may include a fourdrinierpapermaking machine, a twin wire papermaking machine, a combinationpapermaking machine, a cylindrical papermaking machine, a Yankeepapermaking machine and the like.

In the paper stock, one or two or more of other additives selected froma pigment dispersant, a thickener, a fluidity improving agent, adefoamer, an antifoamer, a releasing agent, a foaming agent, apenetrating agent, a colored dye, a colored pigment, an opticalbrightener, an ultraviolet light absorber, an antioxidant, apreservative, a fungicide, an insolubilizer, an wet paper strengtheningagent, a dry paper strengthening agent and the like can be blendedappropriately as long as the desired effect of the present invention isnot impaired.

The coated paper has, for example, a coating layer on at least one sideof the base paper. The coating layer can be provided on the base paperby applying and drying each coating layer-coating composition on thebase paper.

The method of providing a coating layer on a base paper is notparticularly limited. For example, an applying method and a dryingmethod using a coating apparatus and a drying apparatus conventionallyknown in the field of papermaking can be mentioned. Examples of theconventionally known coating apparatus may include a size press, a gateroll coater, a film transfer coater, a blade coater, a rod coater, anair knife coater, a comma coater, a gravure coater, a bar coater, an Ebar coater, a curtain coater, and the like. Examples of the dryingapparatus may include a hot air dryer such as a straight tunnel dryer,an arch dryer, an air loop dryer and a sine curve air float dryer, aninfrared heating dryer, a dryer using microwave, and the like.

The base paper is a papermaking paper obtained by producing a paperstock containing at least one pulp selected from chemical pulp such asLBKP (Leaf Bleached Kraft Pulp) and NBKP (Needle Bleached Kraft Pulp),mechanical pulp such as GP (Groundwood Pulp), PGW (Pressure Ground Woodpulp), RMP (Refiner Mechanical Pulp), TMP (Thermo Mechanical Pulp), CTMP(ChemiThermoMechanical Pulp), CMP (Chemi Mechanical Pulp) and CGP (ChemiGroundwood Pulp), and waste paper pulp such as DIP (DeInked Pulp),various fillers such as calcium carbonate, talc, clay and kaolin, andvarious additives such as a sizing agent, a fixing agent, a retentionaid, a cationizing agent and a paper strengthening agent as requiredinto a paper. Further, the base paper includes woodfree paper which hasbeen subjected to calendering processing, surface sizing with starch,polyvinyl alcohol or the like, or surface treatment or the like on apapermaking paper. Further, the base paper includes woodfree paper whichhas been subjected to calendering processing after subjected to surfacesizing or surface treatment.

Paper making is carried out by adjusting a paper stock to acidic,neutral or alkaline and using a conventionally known papermakingmachine. Examples of the papermaking machine may include a fourdrinierpapermaking machine, a twin wire papermaking machine, a combinationpapermaking machine, a cylindrical papermaking machine, a Yankeepapermaking machine and the like.

In the paper stock, one or two or more of other additives selected froma pigment dispersant, a thickener, a fluidity improving agent, adefoamer, an antifoamer, a releasing agent, a foaming agent, apenetrating agent, a colored dye, a colored pigment, an opticalbrightener, an ultraviolet light absorber, an antioxidant, apreservative, a fungicide, an insolubilizer, an wet paper strengtheningagent, a dry paper strengthening agent and the like can be blendedappropriately as long as the desired effect of the present invention isnot impaired. In the case of coated paper having a coating layer, forexample, if printing is possible by an inkjet printing method, a resinsheet support can be used instead of the base paper.

The coating layer is not particularly limited. The coating layer ispreferably a coating layer containing a resin binder and, if necessary,a conventionally known white pigment and/or various additives in thecoated paper field. Examples of the additives may include a dispersant,a fixing agent, a thickener, a fluidity improving agent, a defoamer, areleasing agent, a foaming agent, a penetrating agent, a coloredpigment, a colored dye, an optical brightener, an ultraviolet lightabsorbing agent, an antioxidant, a preservative, fungicide and the like.Further, the coating layer can contain various auxiliariesconventionally known in a transfer textile printing method. Theauxiliaries are added to optimize various physical properties of thecoating layer-coating composition or to improve the dyeability of thepigment ink to be transferred. Examples of the auxiliaries may includevarious surfactants, a humectant, a wetting agent, a pH adjusting agent,an alkaline agent, a deep coloring agent, a deaerator, a reducinginhibitor and the like.

Examples of the resin binder may include starch and various modifiedstarches, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose andhydroxyethyl cellulose, natural polymer resin such as casein, gelatin,soybean protein, pullulan, gum arabic, karaya gum and albumin or aderivative thereof, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and variousmodified polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylamide, polyethyleneimine,polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, maleic acid type resin,acrylic type resin, methacrylate-butadiene type copolymer resin, astyrene-butadiene type copolymer resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate typecopolymer resin, or a functional group-modified copolymer resins ofthese various copolymers with monomers containing a functional groupsuch as carboxy group, a thermosetting synthetic resin such as amelamine resin and an urea resin, a polyurethane type resin, anunsaturated polyester resin, polyvinyl butyral, alkyd resin latex, andthe like.

Examples of the white pigment may include inorganic pigments such ascalcium carbonate, kaolin, talc, satin white, lithopone, titanium oxide,zinc oxide, silica, alumina, aluminum hydroxide, activated clay anddiatomaceous earth, and organic pigments such as plastic pigments.

The step (2) of forming a pattern using a pigment ink on the transferpaper to obtain a printed transfer paper is printing a pattern on thetransfer paper by at least one printing method selected from the groupconsisting of a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, aninkjet printing method, and the like using a pigment ink, to produce aprinted transfer paper having a pattern formed thereon to be transferredto a textile printing medium. As a method for printing a pattern on atransfer paper, an inkjet printing method is preferable because theimage quality and the degree of freedom of ink used are relatively high.

The pigment ink is an ink whose coloring material is a pigment. Thepigment as the coloring material is generally in a dispersed state withrespect to the solvent of the pigment ink. The pigment ink of thepresent invention can contain a conventionally known pigment dispersant,a resin, and various auxiliary agents such as a penetrating agent, ahumectant, a thickener, a pH adjusting agent, an antioxidant and areducing agent as necessary, in addition to the pigment as the coloringmaterial, and various solvents such as water and alcohol.

A pigment coated with a resin can be used for the pigment as thecoloring material. The resin is preferably a resin containing a monomerhaving at least an anionic group such as acrylic acid or methacrylicacid. The method of obtaining the pigment coated with a resin is, forexample, as follows. A pigment is dispersed in an aqueous solution inwhich a resin is dissolved in the presence of a basic compound to obtaina dispersion. From the dispersion, a resin is deposited on the pigmentsurface using ion exchange means or the like. A pigment ink composed ofa pigment coated with a resin is preferable because of excellentdispersibility of the pigment in the ink and excellent fixing propertyto a textile printing medium.

The pigment as the coloring material can be further roughly classifiedinto an inorganic colored pigment and an organic colored pigment. Any ofthese may be used as the coloring material. The pigment as the coloringmaterial is registered as “C.I. Pigment” in a database such as ColorIndex International. General examples of the pigment as the coloringmaterial may include carbon black, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metalsulfide, ferrocyanide, metal chloride, and the like. Further, examplesof the organic colored pigment may include azo pigments, phthalocyaninepigments, quinacridone pigments, isoindolinone pigments, dioxazinepigments, perylene pigments, perinone pigments, thioindigo pigments,anthraquinone pigments, and quinophthalone pigments.

Examples of pigments of four primary colors (black, cyan, magenta,yellow) that are generally used in the inkjet printing method mayinclude C.I. PigmentBlack7 etc. as a black ink, C.I. PigmentBlue1, C.I.PigmentBlue2, C.I. PigmentBlue15:3, C.I. PigmentBlue16, etc. as a cyanink, C.I. PigmentRed5, C.I. PigmentRed48:2, C.I. PigmentRed57:1, C.I.PigmentRed112, C.I. PigmentRed122, C.I. PigmentViolet19, etc. as amagenta ink, C.I. PigmentYellow1, C.I. PigmentYellow3, C.I.PigmentYellow13, C.I. PigmentYellow74, C.I. PigmentYellow83, C.I.PigmentYellow128, etc. as a yellow ink.

Sublimation printing inks composed of sublimable dyes and disperse dyeinks composed of disperse dyes corresponding to “C.I. Disperse” in thedatabase such as Color Index International do not correspond to thepigment inks of the present invention.

The pigment as the coloring material preferably has an average particlediameter of 50 nm or more and 300 nm or less from the viewpoint offineness. The pigment dispersant is a dispersant generally used forpreparing a dispersion, for example, a polymer dispersant or asurfactant. Resins may include, for example, acrylic type resins,styrene-acrylic type copolymer resins, fluorene type resins,polyurethane type resins, polyolefin type resins, rosin-modified resins,terpene type resins, polyester type resins, polyamide type resins, epoxytype resins, vinyl chloride type resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetatetype copolymer resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate type copolymer resins, andthe like.

The step (3) of bringing the printed transfer paper and a textileprinting medium into close contact with each other, and heating andpressurizing is bringing the surface on which the ink is adhered of theprinted transfer paper having the pattern formed thereon and the surfaceto be printed of the textile printing medium into close contact witheach other and heating and pressurizing in the above-mentioned contactstate.

The method of heating and pressurizing is not particularly limited aslong as it is a condition that allows the pigment as the coloringmaterial of the pigment ink to be transferred from the printed transferpaper to the textile printing medium by bringing them into close contactwith each other. In the case of the following heat press method, thepressure is preferably 1 kg/cm² or more and 12 kg/cm² or less, and morepreferably 5 kg/cm² or more and 10 kg/cm² or less. In the case of theroll nip method, the linear pressure is preferably 10 kg/cm or more and150 kg/cm or less, and more preferably 20 kg/cm or more and 70 kg/cm orless. This is because the transfer of the pigment ink can be achievedwithout damaging the textile printing medium. The heating is preferablyperformed at a temperature of 105° C. or higher and 220° C. or lower,more preferably 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower. This is becausethe transfer of the pigment ink can be achieved without damaging thetextile printing medium. The heating and pressurizing time is preferably0.05 seconds or longer and 15 seconds or shorter, and more preferably0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds or shorter. This is because thetransfer of the pigment ink can be achieved without damaging the textileprinting medium.

More preferably, the heating is performed at a temperature of 105° C. orhigher and 220° C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is0.05 second or longer and 15 seconds or shorter. Further preferably, theheating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. or higher and 200° C.or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is 0.2 seconds or longerand 10 seconds or shorter.

The close contact can be achieved by, for example, a heat press methodsuch as a flatbed heat press or a roll nip method such as a supercalender or soft calender. Heat can be adjusted by pressing temperatureor roll temperature. The pressurization can be adjusted by pressingpressure or nip pressure.

The step (4) of performing a heat treatment without pressurizing whilethe printed transfer paper and the textile printing medium remain inclose contact with each other is heating the printed transfer paper andthe textile printing medium in close contact with each other withoutpressurizing.

Examples of the heat treatment method may include a heat press method, aheat roll set method, a steam method, a thermofix method, etc. under anon-pressurized condition including light pressing that is not generallycalled pressurization. Examples of the heat source for the heattreatment may include an infrared lamp, a high-temperature steam, and ametal heater. The temperature of the heat treatment may be anytemperature at which the pigment which is the coloring material of thepigment ink is fixed to the textile printing medium without damaging thetextile printing medium. An example of the temperature of the heattreatment is preferably 105° C. or higher and 220° C. or lower, and morepreferably 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower from the viewpoint ofhardly damaging the textile printing medium. An example of the time ofthe heat treatment is preferably 10 seconds or longer and 300 seconds orshorter, and more preferably 30 seconds or longer 180 seconds orshorter.

More preferably, the temperature of the heat treatment is 105° C. orhigher and 220° C. or lower, and the time of the heat treatment is 10seconds or longer and 300 seconds or shorter. Further preferably, thetemperature of the heat treatment is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. orlower, and the time of the heat treatment is 30 seconds or longer and180 seconds or shorter.

The step (4) can also be achieved by a method of stopping thepressurization while carrying out the heating in the step (3). Forexample, in the case of a heat press method, such a method is a methodof heating a printed transfer paper and a textile printing medium in aclose contact state without pressurizing, including pressing lightly tothe extent that it cannot be generally called pressurization, and in thecase of a roll nip method, such a method is a method of bringing theprinted transfer paper and the textile printing medium that are in closecontact with each other and a heat roll into contact with each otherwithout applying a nip pressure. In the roll nip method, it isunderstood that the minimum nip pressure necessary for productconveyance is “no pressurization”.

The heat treatment in the step (4) may be performed at the sametemperature as the step (3) or a different temperature. A preferabletemperature and time are as follows. In the step (3), the heating isperformed at a temperature of 105° C. or higher and 220° C. or lower,and the heating and pressurizing time is 0.05 second or longer and 15seconds or shorter, and in the step (4), the temperature of the heattreatment is 105° C. or higher and 220° C. or lower, and the time of theheat treatment is 10 seconds or longer and 300 seconds or shorter. Amore preferable temperature and time are as follows. In the step (3),the heating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. or higher and 200°C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is 0.2 seconds orlonger and 10 seconds or shorter, and in the step (4), the temperatureof the heat treatment is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and thetime of the heat treatment is 30 seconds or longer and 180 seconds orshorter. Preferably, the step (3) and the step (4) are performed at thesame temperature. This is because the fixing is uniform in the patternformed on the textile printing medium.

The step (5) of removing the printed transfer paper from the textileprinting medium is physically peeling the printed transfer paper fromthe textile printing medium. The removal method is a conventionallyknown method and is not particularly limited.

The transfer textile printing method of the present invention has thestep (3), the step (4) and the step (5) in this order. That is, it issufficient that the step (4) is executed after the step (3) and the step(5) is executed after the step (4). As long as the effects of thepresent invention are not impaired, other processing may be performed inthe middle of each step.

The transfer textile printing method of the present invention preferablyhas a step (6) of washing the textile printing medium with water afterthe step (5). By the step (6), unnecessary pigment ink components areremoved from the textile printing medium, and as a result, the fixingproperty or fineness is improved. The method of washing with water is aconventionally known method and is not particularly limited.

By transferring the pigment ink from the printed transfer paper to thetextile printing medium, a pattern can be formed on the textile printingmedium without being limited to polyester. Further, the pre-treatment ofthe textile printing medium is not necessary, and the process can besimplified. It is physically difficult to transfer the pigment ink fromthe printed transfer paper to the textile printing medium. However, byhaving the step (3) and the step (4) of the present invention, and thestep (5) after the step (4), it was possible to transfer the pigment inkfrom the printed transfer paper to the textile printing medium whilehaving color development property and fineness.

In the present invention, the textile printing medium is notparticularly limited to fibers. Examples of fibers may include plantfibers such as cotton and linen, animal fibers such as silk, wool,alpaca, angola, cashmere and mohair, regenerated fibers such as rayon,cupra and polynosic, semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate, triacetateand promix, synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, acrylic,polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane. As a configuration of the fibermaterial, there can be mentioned single, blended, mixed fiber orinterwoven fabric such as woven fabric, knitted fabric and nonwovenfabric. Furthermore, these configurations may be combined.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail byexamples. It should be noted that the present invention is not limitedto these examples. Here, “part by mass” and “% by mass” each represent“parts by mass” and “% by mass” of a dry solid content or a substantialcomponent amount. A coating amount of a coating layer represents a drysolid content.

<Step (1) of Preparing a Transfer Paper>

(Base Paper)

10 parts by mass of calcium carbonate as a filler, 1.2 parts by mass ofamphoteric starch, 0.8 part by mass of aluminum sulfate and 0.1 parts bymass of alkyl ketene dimer type sizing agent were added to a pulp slurrycontaining 100 parts by mass of LBKP having a freeness degree of 380 mlcsf to form a paper stock, which was made into raw paper using afourdrinier papermaking machine. Oxidized starch was attached to bothsides of the raw paper with a size press device at 1.5 g/m² per side,and machine calendering was performed to prepare a base paper with abasis weight of 80 g/m².

<Coating Layer-Coating Composition>

75 parts by mass of carboxymethylcellulose (Cellogen® 6A, manufacturedby DKS Co. Ltd.) and 15 parts by mass of silica (Mizukasil® P527,manufactured by Mizusawa Industrial Chemicals, Ltd.) were dissolved anddispersed in water, and 10 parts by mass of urethane dispersion (Hydran®WLS201: manufactured by DIC Corporation) was further added, and thecoating composition concentration was adjusted to 13% by mass to obtaina coating layer-coating composition.

(Transfer Paper)

The coating layer-coating composition was applied on one side of thebase paper with an air knife coater so as to make the coating amount 5g/m², and dried in a hot air dryer, to finally obtain a roll-shapetransfer paper and sheet-shape transfer paper.

<Step (2) of Forming a Pattern Using a Pigment Ink on the Transfer Paperto Obtain a Printed Transfer Paper>

Using an inkjet printer (VJ-1628TD, manufactured by Mutoh IndustriesLtd.) with pigment inks or dye inks set, the evaluation patterns wereprinted with pigment inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) or dye inks(cyan, magenta, yellow, black) on the roll-shape or sheet-shape transferpaper to finally obtain a roll-shape or sheet-shape printed transferpaper.

For the pigment ink, LYOSPERSE ink manufactured by Huntsman Corporationwas used.

For dye ink 1, EA ink manufactured by KIWA Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.was used as an acidic ink for nylon dyeing, and for dye ink 2, NOVACLONMI ink manufactured by Huntsman Corporation was used as a reaction inkfor cotton dyeing.

<Step (3) of Bringing the Printed Transfer Paper and the TextilePrinting Medium Into Close Contact with Each Other and Heating andPressurizing>

Polyester cloth, cotton cloth, and nylon cloth that were not pretreatedwere used as a textile printing medium. The printed surface of theprinted transfer paper and the textile printing medium were brought intocontact, and brought into close contact with each other while heatingand pressurizing in the following manner. In P1, a roll-shaped printedtransfer paper was used, and in P2, a sheet-shaped printed transferpaper was used.

P1: Roll nip method (temperature, pressure and time are shown in Table1)

P2: Heat press method (temperature, pressure and time are shown in Table1)

<Step (4) of Performing a Heat Treatment without Pressurizing While thePrinted Transfer Paper and the Textile Printing Medium Remain in CloseContact with Each Other>

After the step (3), a heat treatment was performed by the followingmethod while the printed transfer paper and the textile printing mediumremain in close contact with each other.

H1: Heat in contact with heat roll

H2: Heat with a heat press

The heating temperature and time are shown in Table 1.

In addition, the dye ink was subjected to a steaming process.

<Step (5) of Removing the Printed Transfer Paper from the TextilePrinting Medium>

After the heat treatment, the printed transfer paper was peeled off fromthe textile printing medium. No post-treatment related to fixing wasperformed on the obtained textile printing medium.

<Step (6) of Washing the Textile Printing Medium with Water>

The textile printing medium from which the printed transfer paper hasbeen removed in the step (5) was washed with running water. The presenceor absence of water washing is shown in Table 1.

The following items were evaluated for the textile printed medium havingthe pattern formed thereon.

<Fixing Property>

The textile printed medium having the pattern formed thereon was washedfive times in the standard mode of a fully automatic washing machine. Nodetergent was used. Before and after washing, the pattern formed on thetextile printing medium was visually evaluated with respect to the colorfading change before and after washing according to the followingcriteria. In the present invention, if the evaluation is 2, 3 or 4, thetextile printing medium is judged to have fixing property.

4: No color fading is observed, which is good.

3: No noticeable color fading is observed, which is generally good.

2: Color fading is slightly observed, which is lower limit of practicaluse.

1: Color fading is observed, which is bad.

<Color Development Property>

In the textile printing medium, the color density of the solid imageportions of four colors (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) was measuredusing an optical densitometer (X-rite® 530, available from Sakata InxEng. Co., Ltd.), and the color density values of the four colors weretotaled. The color development property was judged according to thefollowing criteria. In the present invention, if the evaluation is 2, 3or 4, the textile printing medium is judged to have color developmentproperty.

4: Total value is 4.0 or more

3: Total value is 3.5 or more and less than 4.0

2: Total value is 3.0 or more and less than 3.5

1: Total value is less than 3.0

<Fineness>

The pattern formed on the textile printing medium was visually evaluatedwith respect to fineness according to the following criteria. In thepresent invention, if the evaluation is 3 or 4, the textile printingmedium is judged to have fineness.

4: The outline of the pattern is very clear, which is a good level.

3: The outline of the pattern is clear, which is generally good level.

2: The outline of the pattern is almost clear, which is practicallyusable level.

1: The outline of the pattern is not clear, which is practicallyunusable level.

Evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Step (3) Step (4) Tem- Heat Heat Treat- Step (6) Color per-treat- temper- ment Pres- develop- Textile printing Contact ature Timement ature time ence or Fixing ment Pattern Ink medium method (° C.)Pressure (s) method (° C.) (s) absence property property finenessExample 1 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 120 60 Yes3 2 3 Example 2 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 18060 Yes 3 3 3 Example 3 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5H1 200 60 Yes 4 3 4 Example 4 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P2 200 10kg/cm² 10 H2 200 30 Yes 3 3 3 Example 5 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P2200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 60 Yes 3 3 3 Example 6 Pigment ink Polyestercloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 180 Yes 3 3 3 Example 7 Pigment inkPolyester clolh P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 60 No 2 3 3 Example 8 Plgmenlink Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 120 60 Yes 3 2 3 Example 9Pigment ink Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 180 60 Yes 4 4 3 Example10 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 200 60 Yes 3 4 4Example 11 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 30 Yes 3 33 Example 12 Pigment ink Nylon clolh P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 60 Yes 34 3 Example 13 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 180Yes 3 4 3 Example 14 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 20060 No 2 4 3 Example 15 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1120 60 Yes 3 2 3 Example 16 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5H1 180 60 Yes 4 4 4 Example 17 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm0.5 H1 200 60 Yes 3 4 4 Example 18 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P2 200 10kg/cm² 10 H2 200 30 Yes 4 3 4 Example 19 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P2 20010 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 60 Yes 3 4 4 Example 20 Pigment ink Cotton cloth P2200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 180 Yes 3 4 4 Example 21 Pigment ink Cottoncloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 60 No 2 4 3 Example 22 Pigment inkPolyester cloth P1 105 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 120 60 Yes 2 2 3 Example 23Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 120 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 120 60 Yes 3 2 3Example 24 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 120 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 105 60 Yes2 2 3 Example 25 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 20010 Yes 2 2 3 Example 26 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P2 220 10 kg/cm² 10 H2200 180 Yes 3 3 3 Example 27 Pigment ink Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm0.05 H1 180 60 Yes 3 2 3 Example 28 Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 18070 kg/cm 0.2 H1 200 60 Yes 4 3 4 Example 29 Pigment ink Polyester clothP1 180 70 kg/cm 0.2 H1 220 60 Yes 4 3 4 Example 30 Pigment ink Polyestercloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 10 H2 200 200 Yes 3 3 3 Example 31 Pigment inkCotton cloth P2 200 10 kg/cm² 15 H2 200 180 Yes 3 4 3 ComparativePigment ink Polyester cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 — — — No 2 1 1 Example 1Comparative Pigment ink Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 — — — No 2 1 1Example 2 Comparative Pigment ink Cotton cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 — — —No 1 1 1 Example 3 Comparative Pigment ink Polyester cloth P1 180  0kg/cm 0.5 H1 200 60 No 1 1 1 Example 4 Comparative Pigment ink Nyloncloth P1 180  0 kg/cm 0.5 H1 200 60 No 1 2 1 Example 5 ComparativePigment ink Cotton cloth P1 180  0 kg/cm 0.5 H1 200 60 No 1 2 2 Example6 Comparative Dye ink 1 Nylon cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1 200 60 No 1 31 Example 7 Comparative Dye ink 2 Cotton cloth P1 180 70 kg/cm 0.5 H1200 60 No 2 3 2 Example 8

From the results in Table 1, it can be seen that Examples 1 to 31corresponding to the transfer textile printing method of the presentinvention have general versatility, simplicity, fixing property, colordevelopment property and fineness. It can be seen that ComparativeExamples 1 to 8 which do not correspond to the transfer textile printingmethod of the present invention cannot satisfy at least one of theseeffects.

Further, mainly from the comparison between Example 5, Example 12 andExample 19, and Example 7, Example 14 and Example 21, it can be seenthat it is preferable to have the step (6) of washing the textileprinting medium with water after the step (5) of removing the printedtransfer paper from the textile printing medium.

Also, mainly from the comparison between Examples 1, 13, 22, 23 and 26and the comparison between Examples 9, 20, 27 and 31, it can be seenthat the temperature in the step (3) is preferably 120° C. or higher and200° C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is preferably0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds or shorter.

Also mainly from the comparison between Examples 3, 23, 24 and 29, andthe comparison between Examples 4, 6, 25 and 30, and since a slightdiscoloration was observed locally in the textile printing medium inExamples 29 and 30 although it is at a level where there is no problemin practical use, it can be seen that the heat treatment temperature inthe step (4) is preferably 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, andthe heat treatment time is preferably 30 seconds or longer and 180seconds or shorter.

1. A transfer textile printing method comprising a step (1) of preparinga transfer paper, a step (2) of forming a pattern using a pigment ink onthe transfer paper to obtain a printed transfer paper, a step (3) ofbringing the printed transfer paper and a textile printing medium intoclose contact with each other and heating and pressurizing, a step (4)of performing a heat treatment without pressurizing while the printedtransfer paper and the textile printing medium remain in close contactwith each other, and a step (5) of removing the printed transfer paperfrom the textile printing medium, wherein the transfer textile printingmethod comprises the step (3), the step (4), and the step (5) in thisorder.
 2. A transfer textile printing method comprising a step (1) ofpreparing a transfer paper, a step (2) of forming a pattern using apigment ink on the transfer paper to obtain a printed transfer paper, astep (3) of bringing the printed transfer paper and a textile printingmedium into close contact with each other and heating and pressurizing,a step (4) of releasing the pressurization, and performing a heattreatment without pressurizing while the printed transfer paper and thetextile printing medium remain in close contact with each other, and astep (5) of removing the printed transfer paper from the textileprinting medium, wherein the step (4) is executed after the step (3),and the step (5) is executed after the step (4).
 3. The transfer textileprinting method according to claim 1, further comprising a step (6) ofwashing the textile printing medium with water after the step (5). 4.The transfer textile printing method according to claim 1, wherein inthe step (3), the heating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. orhigher and 200° C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds or shorter.
 5. The transfer textileprinting method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (4), the heattreatment temperature is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and theheat treatment time is 30 seconds or longer and 180 seconds or shorter.6. The transfer textile printing method according to claim 1, wherein inthe step (3), the heating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. orhigher and 200° C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds or shorter, and in the step (4),the heat treatment temperature is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. orlower, and the heat treatment time is 30 seconds or longer and 180seconds or shorter.
 7. The transfer textile printing method according toclaim 2, further comprising a step (6) of washing the textile printingmedium with water after the step (5).
 8. The transfer textile printingmethod according to claim 2, wherein in the step (3), the heating isperformed at a temperature of 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower,and the heating and pressurizing time is 0.2 seconds or longer and 10seconds or shorter.
 9. The transfer textile printing method according toclaim 2, wherein in the step (4), the heat treatment temperature is 120°C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and the heat treatment time is 30seconds or longer and 180 seconds or shorter.
 10. The transfer textileprinting method according to claim 2, wherein in the step (3), theheating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. or higher and 200° C.or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is 0.2 seconds or longerand 10 seconds or shorter, and in the step (4), the heat treatmenttemperature is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and the heattreatment time is 30 seconds or longer and 180 seconds or shorter. 11.The transfer textile printing method according to claim 3, wherein inthe step (3), the heating is performed at a temperature of 120° C. orhigher and 200° C. or lower, and the heating and pressurizing time is0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds or shorter, and in the step (4),the heat treatment temperature is 120° C. or higher and 200° C. orlower, and the heat treatment time is 30 seconds or longer and 180seconds or shorter.
 12. The transfer textile printing method accordingto claim 7, wherein in the step (3), the heating is performed at atemperature of 120° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and the heatingand pressurizing time is 0.2 seconds or longer and 10 seconds orshorter, and in the step (4), the heat treatment temperature is 120° C.or higher and 200° C. or lower, and the heat treatment time is 30seconds or longer and 180 seconds or shorter.